Store-service apparatus.



c. E. THOMPSON.

PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

STORE SERVIGB vAPPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1904.

3 flunk-SHEET 1.

No. 800,416. V PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

, C. ELTHOMPSON.

7 STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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lie- 800,416. PATENTBD SEPT. 26, 1905. l

0. E1. THOMPSON. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' UNITED sT-A -ns;

P rnNT OFFIOE.

CLEMENT E. THOMPSON, "or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AIR- LINE CARRIER COMPANY, QFCHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, A coRPoRA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

sToRE-sERwoE APPARATUS.

nois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements In Store- Service Apparatus, of

which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding numerals of reference in the diflerent figures indicate like parts.

The primary 01016013 of my invention is to so construct a store+service apparatus of that so that the car may run. upon the upper wire.

while maintaining a fixed relation to the stops upon the lower one as well as to the stirrup adapted to receive and raise and lower the basket at the salesmans station, thereby furnishing an increased factor .of safety against Y the falling of the basket, as well as insuring a more perfect and satisfactory operation of the device.

A further object is to simplify and improve the propelling mechanism and to provide certain novel means in connection therewith whereby-the relation between the wires may be fixed, while the number of pulleys for propelling the device maybe diminished.

To these ends my invention consists in the novel combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a store-service apparatus as it would appear at the salesmans station with parts only of the line-wires. Fig. 2 is a like view of the apparatus as it' would appear at the cashiers station, the car being Specification or Letters Patent.

Application filed September 23, 1904. Serial No. 225,626.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

to the ceiling in any well-known way for the support of the usual wires. Adjustably attached to the lowerv end of the hanger l by.

means of a set-screw, as shown, is a fitting, (generally designated by.3,) upon the upper forward portion of which at 4 is pivotally secured an arm 5, which is extended forward for the purpose hereinafter stated. Upon a lug 6 beneath said arm is attached a clevis 7, to which in turn issecured-a wire 8. Asimilar wire 9, arranged parallel to and beneath the wire 8, has its end attached to a like clevis 10, pivoted at 11 to an arm 12, forming a part of the fitting 3. A rod 13 is passed loosely through a lug 14 upon the arm 12, said rod having formed thereon the usual hook 15 and an upwardly-extended portion 16, through a bore in which is passed a hollow tube 17, which forms asheathing for the wire 9. Upon the rod 13 is placed suitablesprings 18 19. The rod 13 and book 15 thereby serve as a combined stop and buffer for the car, as hereinafter described, to which parts I make no claim. Pivoted at 11 is ashort lever-arm 20, the forward end of which rests loosely upon the part 16.

A link 21 has its upper end jointedly attached to the lug 6, while the lower end is attached to the part about mid way between its ends, as shown. The arm 20 therefore forms a support for the link 21, which in turn serves to support the arm 5. Jointedly attached to the outer end of the arm 5 is a fitting 22, which is arranged to straddle the wires 8 9 for the support of a well-known form of stirrup 23, which, in conjunction with suitable cords 24 and pulleys 25 26, form an elevating device for raising and lowering the usual detachable basket 26, Fig. 2, which is adapted to be automatically locked to and released from the car by anism which forms no part of this invention and which is unnecessary to be described.

' Inter-posed between the wires 8 and 9, formeans of a well-known form of locking mechward of the part 22, isacombined pulley-support and wire-clamping device, (generally designated by 27,) an enlarged view of which is shown in Fig. 4. Said device is composed of two plates or castings 28, between which is interposed a sheet-metal plate 29, bent upon itself, as shown, to form a loop at the top for the reception of the wire 8, said plates and loop being secured together by means of rivets 30, Fig. 4. A grooved pulley v31 is also interposed between the plates 28. passed vertically through the lower portion of said clamp, being secured by means of a nut. Said bolt is provided with a head which is flush with the lower part of the clamp and is provided with a bore through which the wire 9 is threaded, as shown.

A follower 33, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, havingloops 34 35 at the top and bottom, respectively, is loosely mounted upon the wires 8 and 9, the former being threaded throughthe loop 34 and the latter through said loop 35, so that said follower is free to slide upon said wires. An intermediate integral plate 36 is provided with a depression 37, terminating in an opening, as shown, adapted to receive a cord 38, Fig. 1, a knot of which is secured in said depression, while-the cord is carried forward and trained around the pulley 31, thence back beneath the pulley 39 upon the arm 12, thence over a pulley 40 upon a rearwardly-extended arm 41, thence beneath a pulley upon a snatch-block 42, over a pulley 43, and back to the snatch-block, where the end is attached at 44. A cord 45, having a handle 46, is attached to said snatchblock and passed loosely through an opening in the end of an arm 47, which forms a guide therefor.

In Fig. 2 l have represented the mechanism at the cashiers station, in which a bar 48, secured in any well-known manner to the hanger 2, serves as a support for a series of converging, lines, each of which is provided with an approved form of clamping mechanism 49, to which is jointedly connected a bracket or fitting 50, to which is attached in the usual manner a spring-controlled stop 51 and the wires 8 and 9. A combined clamp and pulley-support 52, corresponding to the clamp 27, is attached to the wires 8 and 9 in substantially the same relative position with respect to the station and in the same way except that in lieu of the clamping-bolt 32 I provide a sheet-metal plate 53, which is bent around the wire 9 and rigidly secured between the plates 28 of the clamp in the same manner as in the part 29, Figs. 2 and 4. In lieu of the clamping-bolt 32 I also provide a U- shaped rod 54, which is passed through an opening 55 in the lower part of the clamp 52, while its rear ends are attached at 56 to the part 50, the parallel portions of said rod lying upon opposite sides of the wire 9. A pulley 57 is mounted in the clamp 52, and a cord 58, having a follower 59, corresponding substantially to the follower 33, attached to its end, is trained around the pulley 57, thence around a pulley 60 upon the part 50, thence over a pulley 61 upon the end of a hand-lever 62, jointedly connected at 63 to the upper end of the bracket 50, thence around a pulley 64 upon said bracket, from whence the end of the cord leads to said lever, to which it is attached at 65.

A car 66, Figs. 2 and 3, the frame of which is constructed to straddle the wires 8 and 9,

A bolt 32 is l is provided with grooved wheels 67, which are mounted upon the wire 8. Upon each end of the car and jointedly connected thereto is a movable spring-controlled yoke or latch 68, one of which is adapted to engage the stop at the salesmans station and the other at that of the cashier. These latches, which are held in normal positions by means of springs, (not shown,) are in their general form old and well known; but the means of releasing the same from the hooks, whereby certainty of action is insured, is new and may be described as follows: Jointedly connected to lugs 69 69 upon the frame of the car are parallel links 70 70, Figs. 2 and 3, the lower ends of which are jointedly attached at T1 to short links 72, which in turn are connected in like manner at 73 to upwardly-extended arms upon the latches 68. It will be seen by reference to the drawings that when the car is locked to the stop at either end of the line the follower 33 or 59, as the case may be, at that end will be in contact with the links 70. Upon actuating the propelling-cord at that end, which in Fig. 1 would be by pulling upon the handle -16 and in Fig. 2 by pulling downward ly u pon the free end of the lever 62, the lower end of the links To will be moved by the pressure of the follower toward the car, thereby lifting the latch 68 against the action of its retainirig-spring and releasing it from engagen'ient with the book. A continuance of the stress serves, through the action of the follower and propellingcord, to impart a sufficient impulse to the car to forward it to its destination. \Yhcn the cord 45 is moved downwardLv to its full limit, the follower 33 is caused to rest. against the pulley-support 28, as shown in Fig. 1. Upon the return of the car from the cashiers station the follower is engaged thereby and moved back with the ear to its initial position. The same action obviously occurs at the opposite end of the line. It will thus be seen that the action of the car upon its return to a station serves to automatically restore the propelling mechanism thereat to an operative position.

In lieu of the propelling-cords described and the sliding followers attached thereto it has heretofore been customary to employ a double cord with a loop to engage a. hook upon the latch of the car. This not only necessitated a double set of pulleys with twice the length of cord, but the loop, being necessarily detached, would frequently fail to engage the hook, thereby causing annoyance and loss of time. My improved follower is always in position to engage the links 70 and can by no possibility fail either to be carried back by the car or to be in proper position to lift the latch when stress is applied to the propelling-cord. Moreover, the use of the follower avoids the wear which otherwise would come upon the cord. By employing said cord in the manner described without a loop I. am

enabled to place the combined pulley-supports and wire-retaining clamps 27 and 52,

wire 8 causes a corresponding movement of the parts 22 and 23. Hence it follows that the stirrup 23 will always sustain the proper relation to the incoming car and cannot interfere therewith, as frequently occurs when the car is suspended from the lower wire.

' I do not limit myself to the exact construction of the features herein described, as it is obvious that they may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A store-service apparatus in which is combined two wires one above the other, pulley-supports at the respective ends of the line forward of the normal position of the car, each arranged to clamp both of said wires, pulleys mounted upon said supports, propelling-cords in operative connection therewith and a car mounted upon the uppermost wire and arranged to straddle said wires and pulley-supports.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of an elevated way consisting of parallel Wires arranged one above the other, a car mounted upon the uppermostwire, a detachable receptacle, an elevating-stirrup located at the end of the way for raising and lowering said receptacle, and means supported by said wires formaintaining a predetermined relation between said wires and stirrup to conform to variations in stress upon the wires.-

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of an elevated way consisting of two parallel wires, one above the other, a car mounted upon the upper wire, a detachable .receptacle, an elevating-stirrup located at the end of the way in operative position to engage the receptacle when the car is at the station,

I and a compound lever system in connection with said wires for supporting said stirrup, whereby a movement of the wires caused by varying stress thereon may serve to produce a corresponding movement of said stirrup to maintain it in normal operative relation to the basket and car. 7

4:. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of an elevated way consisting of .two

parallel wires, one above the other,-a car mounted upon the upper wire, a detachable receptacle, an elevating-stirrup located at the end of the way in operative position to engage the basket,'a' stop connected with said lower wire and means conjointly supported by said wires, for'm'aintaining a predetermined relation between said wires, said stirrup and said stop, whereby the stirrup and stop may be caused'to maintain operative positions respectively to the receptacle and car regardless of the'varying strains upon the wires. 5. The combination in a store-service appa ratus, of an elevatedway consisting of parallel Wires located in a vertical plane, a car mounted to straddle 'said wires with its supportingwheels upon the upper one, pulley-supports located between the wires near the respective ends, a sliding follower loosely mounted upon said wires between said pulley and the end of the way, and a propelling-cord trained over said pulley and having one end attached to said follower.

6. The combination in a store-service apparatus, of an elevated Way, a car mounted to tive ends thereof, and propelling-cords for actuating said followers to press upon said links to release the latch and impart an impetus to the car.

8. The combination with an elevated way,

consisting of parallel wires, one above the other, of a .car mounted upon the upper Wire, and pulley-supports mounted between the wires near the'ends of the way between the respective stations in position to be straddled by the car inpassing. h

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 21st day of September, 1904. Y

I CLEMENT E. THOMPSON. Witnesses: I D. H. FLETCHER,

C. E. JORDAN. 

